Downloading System

1. A portable storage device used with a downloading apparatus for recording and physically transporting digital data, comprising: a storage assembly having a predetermined shape and being adapted to be received by or loaded into the data downloading apparatus of a data downloading system; and a main recording surface having at least four different recording areas including: a first non-rewritable recording area in which is recorded download identification information for designating information to be downloaded to the portable storage device when the portable storage device is loaded in the data downloading system, and medium identification information for identifying the portable storage device as permitted in the downloading system; a second rewritable recording area for recording digital data identified by the download information; a third area of the main recording surface in which information can be recorded as use record information regarding various processing executed by the downloading system when the portable storage device is loaded in the downloading system to which the portable storage device is adapted; a fourth area of the main recording surface in which information can be recorded as fee record information of fees charged with respect to various processing executed by the downloading system when the portable storage device is loaded in the downloading system to which the portable storage device is adapted; wherein the digital data is automatically recorded on the portable storage device by the data downloading system when the portable storage device is loaded into the data downloading apparatus and the medium identification information is recognized as being authorized for recording the digital data.

2. A method of using a portable storage device in a data downloading system for recording and physically transporting digital data, the method comprising: recording in a first non-rewritable recording area of the portable storage device download identification information for designating information to be downloaded to the storage device and medium identification information identifying the storage device as permitted in a data downloading apparatus of the data downloading system; loading in the data downloading apparatus the portable storage device, the portable storage device having a predetermined shape adapted to be received by or loaded into the data downloading apparatus; and automatically downloading or recording in a second rewritable recording area digital data identified by the download information; recording in a third area of the portable storage device use record information regarding various processing executed by the data downloading system when the portable storage device is loaded in the data downloading system; recording in a fourth area fee record information of fees charged with respect to various processing executed by the data downloading system when the portable storage device is loaded in the data downloading system; wherein the digital data is recorded on the storage device by the data downloading system when the medium identification information is authorized by the data downloading apparatus for recording the digital data.